Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs) are financial products that combine the benefits of insurance and investment. They are designed to provide policyholders with life insurance coverage while also enabling them to invest in various market-linked funds.
So, how does a ULIP work? Let’s find out.
A ULIP, or Unit Linked Insurance Plan, is a hybrid financial product that offers the dual advantage of life insurance and investment. A portion of the premium paid by the policyholder goes towards providing life insurance coverage. After the deduction of certain charges, the remaining premium is invested into funds/strategy opted by the policyholder.
These are a few aspects of ULIPs that can help you with insights into how they work.
Investment Strategies
Based on the insurer you purchase your ULIP from, the policyholder can choose the investment strategy their money will grow according to. Thus, a policyholder can align their money to their risk appetite and goals.
Fund Options
Policyholders can choose from a variety of funds, and the returns depend on the performance of these funds in the market. Their market-linked premium amounts will then grow over time, based on the chosen fund’s performance.
Fund Switching
One of the unique features of ULIPs is the flexibility to switch between different funds. Policyholders can switch their investments between equity, debt, and balanced funds, based on their financial goals and market conditions, often without incurring additional charges.
Key Features of ULIPs
Some of the common features of these plans are:
- Combines insurance and investment.
- Offers tax exemptions on premiums and benefits received as per prevailing tax laws.
- Provides flexibility to switch between various fund options based on market conditions.
A ULIP calculator is a valuable tool to help policyholders estimate the potential returns on their investments. With such a tool made available online, you can easily incorporate a ULIP plan in your financial planning and understand what to expect from it.